Regents decide against fee increase

The budget is finalized.

The regents unanimously passed the budget and finalized tuition-and-fees during Friday’s meeting at the SUB.

Board of Regents President Jack Fortner said the board took the Student Fee Review Board’s recommendation not to increase student fees next year.

Regent Gene Gallegos said that a $40 fee increase would have allowed Johnson Gym to stay open on weekends and afforded students longer library hours among other things.

“The University is not funding the library appropriately,” he said. “It’s a real mistake not to make a fee for Johnson Gym and the library.”

Fortner said that the regents wanted to take the SFRB’s advice. He said the regents would address the issue again when the
University has a clearer view of enrollment rates and more budgetary wiggle room.

“One of the things we tried to do is to listen to the students,” he said. “They are going to have lost hours at the gym, but it’s important to let the students know that we listened.”

Regent Don Chalmers said students are already financially strained and this budget allows somewhat of a reprieve. Given budget cuts, he said, the University has done well over the past several years.

“We need to look at different places, instead of putting it on students’ backs,” he said. “Nobody likes this budget, but it’s as good as it’s going to get.”